Association Of University Radiologists Research Articles

Creativity, Connection, and Community: Reimagining the Radiology Society Meeting

With the shifting needs of radiologists due to escalating healthcare demands, the impetus for an increased focus on wellness and the benefits of the humanities in medicine inspired a novel approach to curricular planning of the 2023 Association of University Radiologists (AUR) annual meeting. In this manuscript, we describe the creative process behind planning and executing this innovative meeting format. Reimagining the annual meeting was a collaborative effort centered around the development of an innovative Arts and Wellness Program, with the goal of integrating opportunities for artistic expression and experiential wellness throughout the meeting. Of the 1313 meeting attendees, 423 (32.2%) completed the annual meeting evaluation, of which 244 were in-person and 61 attended virtually. 178 of 423 respondents (42.1%) participated in the arts and wellness programming. 160 of 203 respondents (78.9%) reported that the arts and wellness programming enhanced the overall meeting experience. 164 of 197 respondents (83.2%) gained greater appreciation for the talents of radiology colleagues. 97 of 195 respondents (49.7%) stated that the programming gave them ideas as to how to cope effectively with stress. The incorporation of art, music, and other wellness activities into a national radiology meeting was well-received by meeting attendees. For many radiologists who participated in the various musical and artistic offerings at the AUR 2023 meeting, sharing artistic talents with the radiology community and colleagues represented the most fundamental way to be fully seen, express authenticity, and connect with others.

The 2022 AUR Academic Radiology and Industry Leaders Roundtable

The Association of University Radiologists (AUR) convened its sixth annual Academic-Industry Roundtable in a hybrid fashion in March 2022, with academic radiology and radiology industry leaders gathered in person and via remote videoconference. The open discussion centered around on challenges facing radiology and specifically focused on the people in our field, including patients, radiologists, and radiology staff. Participants identified numerous opportunities for industry and radiology departments to collaborate to improve equitable access to healthcare, communication with patients, use of appropriate imaging, and the state of the radiology workforce.

Multilevel Approach to Support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Radiology

Integrating diversity into healthcare systems has its challenges and advantages. Academic medicine strives to expand the diversity of the healthcare workforce. The Association of University Radiologists (AUR) put together a task force to review the concept of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) as it pertains to Radiology and to propose strategies for better integrating DEI in Radiology. We present several measures aimed at the trainee, leadership, management and professional society levels to empower DEI in Radiology.

Development and Assessment of Early Utilization of the Standardized Letter of Recommendation for Use in the Radiology Residency Match

Letters of recommendation are essential for residency applications. Traditionally, narrative letters have been used. Standardized letters of recommendation (SLOR) have been developed and have benefits to the writer and reader. The goal was to develop an informative, meaningful, and efficient SLOR for the radiology residency Match and to assess its early use. An Association of University Radiologists (AUR) Research and Education Venture Fund Grant was awarded for the development of a SLOR for use in the radiology residency Match. Grant recipients developed the letter and modifications were based on feedback from the Alliance of Medical Student Educators in Radiology (AMSER) SLOR task force and a larger task force including additional AUR and Association of Program Directors in Radiology (APDR) members. AUR and APDR members were surveyed in 2020 to assess the radiology SLOR. The radiology SLOR became available for use in September 2018. It highlights the top six traits or abilities deemed most valued in a resident candidate and guides the writer to develop a concrete narrative. Top perceived benefits of the Radiology SLOR are ease of reading and interpretation. Top perceived drawbacks are an impersonal format and concerns regarding program directors' perceptions of the new SLOR. SLOR utilization increased in the second year of availability. The radiology SLOR was developed and first used in 2018. Its use increased over two years and will likely continue to increase given the perceived benefits and increasing awareness of the SLOR.

The ADVICER Template for Faculty Reviewer Letters for Promotion and Appointment

Promotion is an important milestone in the career of academic radiologists. Appointments, Promotion and Tenure (APT) committees require multiple letters of support from both internal and external referees. Traditional narrative letters are highly subjective, have high inter-reader variability, are time-intensive, and vulnerable to gender and other biases. The Alliance of Directors and Vice Chairs of Education in Radiology (ADVICER) recognized the need for a standardized template to assist academic faculty, letter writers, and APT committees. An ADVICER ad hoc committee of six educators with experience serving as external referees was convened to create a standardized template. Committee members performed a search of the relevant literature and internet sites, spoke with stakeholders such as APT chairs, and ultimately developed a template for faculty reviewer letters using the common clinician-educator pathway as a focal point. An open source, modifiable, standardized, template was produced. The template has been made available to ADVICER members and is available on the Association of University Radiologists (AUR) website at: https://www.aur.org/resources/Template-for-Faculty-Reviewer-Letters-for-Promotion-and-Appointment CONCLUSION: This external referee template has the potential to reduce subjectivity, eliminate bias, and provide a flexible, modifiable, comprehensive faculty review letter template which will be useful for academic faculty, letter writers, and promotions committees.

Geographic Trends in Publications and Submissions in Radiology Journals: Decade Report (2010 – 2020)

The Radiology Research Alliance (RRA) of the Association of University Radiologists (AUR) organized a task force to quantify geographic changes in submissions to and publications within radiology journals over time. Twenty journals were selected: 7 US-based general, 4 European-based general, and 9 subspecialty radiology journals. Journals were solicited for submissions and publications based on country of origin from 2010 -2020. Regression models assessed changes over time across countries, and by continent, with an emphasis on the US and China, for each journal category. There were 104,679 publications and 92,446 submissions from 149 countries. Overall, there were significant increases in numbers of publications from Asia (R2=0.66, p <0.01), and specifically, China (R2=0.87, p <0.01). For US journals, there were increased numbers of publications from Asia (R2=0.72, p <0.01) and China (R2=0.98, p <0.01), but decreased numbers from North America (R2=0.41, p=0.03). For European journals, there were increased numbers of publications from Asia (R2=0.79, p <0.01), North America (R2=0.75, p <0.01), and China (R2=0.82, p <0.01). For subspecialty journals, there were increased numbers of publications from North America (R2=0.38, p=0.04) and China (R2=0.73, p <0.01). There was an acute COVID spike in submissions during 2020, with a continuous increase most notable in China (R2=0.96, p <0.01). In the last decade, the numbers of submissions to and publications within general and subspecialty US and European radiology journals have generally increased around the world, with the largest growth in Asia and in particular China.

AUR-RRA Review: Logistics of Academic-Industry Partnerships in Artificial Intelligence

The Radiology Research Alliance (RRA) of the Association of University Radiologists (AUR) convenes Task Forces to address current topics in radiology. In this article, the AUR-RRA Task Force on Academic-Industry Partnerships for Artificial Intelligence, considered issues of importance to academic radiology departments contemplating industry partnerships in artificial intelligence (AI) development, testing and evaluation. Our goal was to create a framework encompassing the domains of clinical, technical, regulatory, legal and financial considerations that impact the arrangement and success of such partnerships.

The Radiology Landscape after COVID-19: Summary of the 2021 AUR Academic Radiology and Industry Leaders Roundtable

The fifth Association of University Radiologists (AUR) Academic Radiology and Leaders Roundtable took place the day after the conclusion of the AUR annual meeting in May 2021 and involved leaders in academic radiology departments across the United States, and industry from companies who provide quintessential services to radiology departments. The open-ended discussion identified the key challenges facing the practice and business of radiology as we jointly move forward after the COVID-19 pandemic. Particular attention was paid to the identification of viable solutions that radiology departments should embrace to sustain clinical productivity, innovation, and well-being, and the ways that industry could contribute significantly to that endeavor.

Resident Clinician Educator Leadership Pathway Tracks in US Radiology Programs: An ADVICER 2021 Survey Study

Rationale and ObjectivesThe purpose of this manuscript is to elucidate the prevalence, characteristics, outcomes, and perceptions of Alliance of Directors and Vice Chairs of Education in Radiology (ADVICER) members on Clinician Educator Leadership Pathway (CELP) tracks in diagnostic and interventional radiology residency programs in the United States. Materials and MethodsIRB exemption was obtained for this study. A 17-question anonymous survey was administered to the ADVICER members, an Association of University Radiologists (AUR) affiliate group, via email once, and then as a reminder 14 days later. Statistical analysis occurred via built-in analytics of the survey vendor, SurveyMonkey. ResultsThirty five of 72 ADVICER members (48.6%) responded to the survey. 45.7% (16/35) respondents indicated the presence of leadership or specialty pathways in their respective residencies. 28.6% of respondents indicated a CELP (10/35) in their residency programs. 92.0% of respondents endorsed CELP as preparatory for an academic career, and 93.6% endorsed development of a national CELP curriculum. ConclusionThe majority of radiology residency programs do not have a CELP in their training curriculum. ADVICER leaders overwhelmingly support CELP for professional development of the future educational leaders in radiology and endorse the creation of a national CELP curriculum.

Evolution of the Interventional Radiology (IR) Pathway-Various Changes and Interrelation to Diagnostic Radiology (DR)

Interventional radiology continues to evolve into a more robust and clinically dynamic specialty underpinned by significant advancements in training, education, and practice. This article, prepared by members of the 2020-2021 Association of University Radiologists' task force of the Radiology Research Alliance, will review these developments, highlighting the evolution of interventional radiology pathways with attention to growing educational differences, interrelation to diagnostic radiology training, post-training practice patterns, distribution of procedures and future trends, amongst other key features important to those pursuing a career in interventional radiology as well as those in practice.

The Current State of Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in the Radiology Workplace: A Survey

Our objectives were (1) to determine the extent to which gender discrimination and sexual harassment are experienced by female radiologists and trainees; (2) to examine whether experiencing harassment or discrimination influences perceptions of gender parity; and (3) to explore whether the existence of either formal institutional policies or the number of women in the workplace and/or in leadership positions influences perceptions of having achieved gender equity. An online anonymous questionnaire, developed through an Association of University Radiologists (AUR) - affiliated 2019-2020 Task Force, was used to assess participant demographics, perceptions of gender parity, and experiences of gender discrimination and sexual harassment. A total of 375 complete responses were collected. All respondents were female with most practices consisting of fewer than 25% female radiologists. The majority of respondents reported having been a victim of sexual harassment (n = 226, 60.3%) and gender discrimination (n = 318, 84.8%) in the workplace. Approximately 87.5% of participants believed workplace gender parity would take longer than 10 years to achieve; 26.9% responded that it will never happen. Experiencing gender discrimination or harassment in the workplace was significantly associated with a negative outlook on achieving gender parity. Conversely, the presence and number of adequate formal institutional policies to address workplace gender equity and harassment were significantly associated with optimistic views on achieving gender parity. Higher percentages of women in one's practice as well as number of women in leadership positions were also significantly associated with more optimistic expectations. Gender discrimination and sexual harassment are common in the field of radiology and influence victims' outlook on achieving gender parity in the workplace. Perceptions can be improved by implementing adequate institutional training policies on harassment and increasing the representation of female radiologists.

Impacts of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on healthcare workers: A nationwide survey of United States radiologists

BackgroundEfforts to reduce nosocomial spread of COVID-19 have resulted in unprecedented disruptions in clinical workflows and numerous unexpected stressors for imaging departments across the country. Our purpose was to more precisely evaluate these impacts on radiologists through a nationwide survey. MethodsA 43-item anonymous questionnaire was adapted from the AO Spine Foundation's survey and distributed to 1521 unique email addresses using REDCap™ (Research Electronic Data Capture). Additional invitations were sent out to American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER) and Association of University Radiologists (AUR) members. Responses were collected over a period of 8 days. Descriptive analyses and multivariate modeling were performed using SAS v9.4 software. ResultsA total of 689 responses from radiologists across 44 different states met the criteria for inclusion in the analysis. As many as 61% of respondents rated their level of anxiety with regard to COVID-19 to be a 7 out of 10 or greater, and higher scores were positively correlated the standardized number of COVID-19 cases in a respondent's state (RR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02–1.21, p = 0.01). Citing the stressor of “personal health” was a strong predictor of higher anxiety scores (RR 1.23; 95% CI: 1.13–1.34, p < 0.01). By contrast, participants who reported needing no coping methods were more likely to self-report lower anxiety scores (RR 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3–0.53, p < 0.01). ConclusionCOVID-19 has had a significant impact on radiologists across the nation. As these unique stressors continue to evolve, further attention must be paid to the ways in which we may continue to support radiologists working in drastically altered practice environments and in remote settings.

Gender Variation in Invited Presenters at Two National Radiology Specialty Meetings

Rationale and ObjectivesTo assess gender balance amongst invited speakers at 2 national radiology conferences over the past decade. Materials and MethodsThe 2009, 2014, and 2019 Association of University Radiologists (AUR) and American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) conference programs were evaluated for the number and gender of invited speakers, as well as various presentation characteristics. Gender balance was stratified across conferences and years. ResultsThe final analysis included 1657 invited speakers and 45, 602 minutes of presentation. AUR showed a nonsignificant increase in the percent of presentations by women from 42.2% to 46.5% and in the percent of distinct female presenters from 41.6% to 46.0%. For ARRS, percentage of female presenters varied minimally from 36.1% to 38.2%. In AUR 2009, female presenters spoke on average 5.7min less than men (P= 0.042) and 6.5% of women gave lectures over 30 minutes vs 22.2% of men (P = 0.032). Subsequent AUR and ARRS conferences did not demonstrate presentation length disparities. For AUR, no keynote female speaker was identified. For ARRS, there was no significant difference in percentage of keynote speakers based on gender (P ≥0.516). A disproportionately high percentage of presentations before 8am (44.4%-66.7%) were by women. ConclusionFemale representation was greater than among the overall radiology workforce, highlighting a role of national societies in promoting female radiologists. Nonetheless, such representation is confounded by disproportionate underrepresentation in visibility of invited talks. While improvement in some presentation measures were observed, continued efforts are warranted to promote equal opportunities for female radiologists at national conferences.

Moving a National Medical Meeting in Response to California’s Anti–Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Discrimination Travel Ban

As our political landscape becomes more polarized with states creating conflicting laws intended to uphold citizen rights, medical organizations may find themselves involved in conversations and decision making far removed from their professional society missions. Because the Association of University Radiologists (AUR) was in such a position this year, our narrative may benefit other medical organizations, inside and outside of the field of imaging. The AUR mission statement is “to inspire and educate the academic radiology community through collaboration and innovation in teaching, research, management, and leadership.” The AUR’s aspirational vision statement is “We will be an agile, inclusive, collaborative, and creative organization bringing value to patients and their care by enabling radiologists to advance innovation in academic medicine and scholarship.” Although organizations may rarely think about their mission and vision statements once they are created, familiarity with these statements may be highly beneficial when debating the best course for an organization to pursue, particularly when there are competing interests expressed within the group. Inclusion by Exclusion: Response to: “Moving a National Medical Meeting in Response to California’s Anti–Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Discrimination Travel Ban”Journal of the American College of RadiologyVol. 16Issue 9PreviewThe Association of University Radiologists (AUR) response [1] to the edict forbidding California’s physician scientists from sharing knowledge in jurisdictions with differing viewpoints seems particularly ironic. Full-Text PDF

Valerie P. Jackson, MD, President, Radiological Society of North America, 2019.

HomeRadiologyVol. 290, No. 1 PreviousNext CommunicationsFree AccessSpecial CommunicationsValerie P. Jackson, MD, President, Radiological Society of North America, 2019Mary C. MahoneyMary C. MahoneyMary C. MahoneyPublished Online:Dec 4 2018https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2018184022MoreSectionsPDF ToolsImage ViewerAdd to favoritesCiteTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked In Valerie P. Jackson, MDDownload as PowerPointOpen in Image Viewer It is an honor to introduce Valerie P. Jackson, MD, as the 2019 president of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Dr Jackson received her medical degree in 1978 from the Indiana University (IU) School of Medicine and completed her residency at the IU Medical Center in 1982. She remained on the faculty following her residency and became chair of the Department of Radiology and Imaging Services in 2004. She was recently named the Eugene C. Klatte Professor Emeritus at IU. In 2014, Dr Jackson was appointed executive director of the American Board of Radiology (ABR), and she still serves in that role today.An expert in the field of breast imaging and a passionate advocate for radiology education, Dr Jackson has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and 20 books and book chapters with an emphasis on breast imaging and radiologic education. She has served as principal investigator on numerous funded grants, including several focused on radiologic education. She is a highly regarded lecturer and educator, having given more than 300 scientific and educational presentations at meetings worldwide.Dr Jackson has served on the editorial boards of multiple journals, including Contemporary Diagnostic Radiology, Journal of the American College of Radiology, The Breast Journal, Seminars in Breast Diseases: Radiologic, Pathologic, and Surgical Considerations, and Radiology, where she served as associate editor from 1989 to 1998 and as a consultant to the editor in 1999. She has served as a manuscript reviewer for numerous journals including American Journal of Roentgenology, Investigative Radiology, Medical Physics, Academic Medicine, and Radiology.An RSNA member since 1982, Dr Jackson has served the Society in numerous roles, including as chair of the Refresher Course Committee from 2009 to 2012, a member of the RSNA News Editorial Board from 2005 to 2008, chair of the Breast Imaging Subcommittee of the Scientific Program Committee from 2003 to 2006, and a member of the Public Information Advisors Network from 1997 to 2017. She served the RSNA as first vice president from 2008 to 2009 and was a member of the RSNA Centennial Committee. Dr Jackson is a steadfast supporter of the RSNA Research & Education (R&E) Foundation and has served on several committees as well as the R&E Foundation Board of Trustees from 2009 to 2015. She joined the RSNA Board of Directors in 2012 and served as board chair in 2017.Dr Jackson actively participates in organized radiology, having held leadership positions in the Indiana Radiological Society (IRS), American Roentgen Ray Society, Association of University Radiologists, Radiology Research Alliance, Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research (formerly Academy of Radiology Research), Society of Breast Imaging (SBI), and American College of Radiology (ACR). She is past president of the IRS, ACR, ACR Foundation, Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments, and SBI. Dr Jackson served on the ABR’s board of trustees from 2001 to 2010.The recipient of numerous honors throughout her career, Dr Jackson is a fellow of ACR and has received the gold medals of the IRS, SBI, and ACR. The Valerie P. Jackson Education Fellowship recognizes her work with the ACR. The Association of Program Directors honored her with its achievement award in 2015, and she became an honorary member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine in 2017. Dr Jackson delivered the 2002 RSNA Annual Oration in Diagnostic Radiology, “Screening Mammography: Controversies and Headlines.”Dr Jackson is a world traveler who beautifully documents her trips with hundreds of photographs. A recently acquired interest, Val has put her many years of radiology training to good use in taking up photography. Those lucky enough to travel with her are the recipients of treasured volumes of photo memories.Anyone who knows Val knows how proud she is of her son, Chip. Chip is a medical physicist in Melbourne, Australia, and the reason for many of her travels.Dr Jackson is an accomplished radiologist and an outstanding role model, educator, friend, and mother. She possesses all the qualities that make a good doctor and she has devoted her life to improving the lives of her patients. Val embodies the virtues of character that make someone not only an impressive academic but also an exceptional person. She will bring energy and passion to her role as RSNA President and we will all be better for her leadership.Article HistoryPublished online: Dec 4 2018Published in print: Jan 2019 FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsRecommended Articles Stand-Alone Machine Learning: More Work Is NeededRadiology2021Volume: 302Issue: 1pp. 105-106Mary C. Mahoney, MD, President, Radiological Society of North America, 2021Radiology2021Volume: 298Issue: 2pp. 245-246Linda Moy, MD, Named New Editor of RadiologyRadioGraphics2022Volume: 42Issue: 2pp. E37-E38Linda Moy, MD, Named New Editor of RadiologyRadiology2022Volume: 303Issue: 1pp. 3-4Test Sets and Real-Life Performance: Can One Predict the Other?Radiology: Imaging Cancer2020Volume: 2Issue: 5See More RSNA Education Exhibits Urban Mobile Mammography: Bringing Mammography to the UnderservedDigital Posters2020Pandemic Preparedness: Streamlining the Breast Imaging Patient Care and Teaching Experience During COVID-19Digital Posters2020Non-Contrast-Enhanced Breast MR Screening for Women with Dense BreastsDigital Posters2019 RSNA Case Collection Axillary Adenopathy Secondary to HIVRSNA Case Collection2021Intracapsular Implant RuptureRSNA Case Collection2021Skin calcificationsRSNA Case Collection2020 Vol. 290, No. 1 Metrics Altmetric Score PDF download

William G. Bradley, Jr, MD, PhD, FACR (1942-2017).

Bill passed on November 20 in La Jolla, California. Bill was Distinguished Professor Emeritus, as well as the immediate past Chair of the Department of Radiology at UC San Diego. Bill was a former president of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) and a deputy editor for the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (JMRI) during our entire tenure and was active in reviewing papers even while ill and hospitalized. I have had the utmost respect for his judgment and insight. The journal was and is inarguably better due to his service. On behalf of JMRI, we extend our deep condolences to Bill's family, including his loving wife Rosalind (Roz) Dietrich, MD, FACR, Professor of Radiology, UC San Diego, and his beloved children David, Kristin, India, and Felicity. Bill was one of the most accomplished radiologists of his generation. Bill had the depth and breadth of knowledge, training, and brilliance that allowed him to be successful in every phase of his career. He walked easily between the worlds of academic radiology and private practice, always remaining committed to teaching, and to the pursuit of new knowledge and ideas. Bill never stopped, and lived life to the fullest. He had a huge personality, with an infectious laugh, a laugh that none of us will ever forget. When he was in a room, all eyes were drawn to him, whether for his clinical wisdom, or just to hear one of his many funny stories. In spite of his many accomplishments and successes, Bill was amazingly humble, approachable, kind, and warm. One of our enduring memories of him is from the early days of MRI education. Michael Zlatkin was on the faculty with him in some far away venue. Michael was a latecomer to the group assembled and not long out of training, thus he. Mike was understandably in awe of Bill and of the other course faculty members. Bill just walked up to Michael and said, “I hear you are the shoulder guy, welcome to the MRI Mafia.” With just those few words he put Mike immediately at ease, letting him know that he belonged. If there was an MRI Mafia, Bill Bradley was certainly its Godfather, and the ISMRM was La Costa Nostra. Bill obtained his bachelor of science degree at Cal Tech, and his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Princeton. Owing to this background, Bill was able to comprehend MR physics and to teach it to others. Bill performed seminal work in our field, including describing flow phenomena (such as even echo rephasing) and the breakdown of blood products. Bill Bradley was a man ahead of his time and a great visionary. In fact, some of the most current areas of interest in neuroimaging, such as hydrocephalus, cerebrospinal fluid flow, and multiple sclerosis rely on and make reference to work Bill Bradley initiated. Bill did his radiology training at UC San Francisco, where he was greatly influenced by the Chair at that time, Alex Margulis. From UCSF he brought his boundless energy and skills to the private practice world, first at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena and then at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. Bill returned to academic practice at UC San Diego. During his tenure at UCSD the radiology department became a national leader in the NIH funding rankings. He did this by recruiting both established world leaders as faculty members, while also hiring and mentoring a new wave of innovators and leaders who joined his faculty. He was also able to forge vital partnerships with many industrial partners. Over the course of his career, Bill Bradley published over 200 articles, 54 book chapters, and 21 textbooks. He is also known for coauthoring and editing one of the early definitive reference textbooks on MRI, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, with coauthor and coeditor David Stark, through three editions. Bill was also on the Editorial Boards of 10 scientific journals and was a charter member of an NIH Study Section (BMIT) from 2004–2008. Bill Bradley was the recipient of gold medals for distinguished lifetime achievements from the most prestigious radiology societies: the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), the American College of Radiology, the ISMRM, the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS), and the Association of University Radiologists (AUR). Besides ISMRM, Bill was active throughout his career in organized radiology. He was past president of the Board of Trustees of the Radiological Society of North America Research and Education Foundation (1995–2001) and served as the Chairman of the Fund Development Committee of that organization from 1996 to 2008. Bill was on the Board of Chancellors of the American College of Radiology, where he chaired the Commission on Neuroradiology and MRI from 1999 to 2005 and served as Vice President from 2005–2006. Bill was Chair of the Steering Committee for the Coalition for Imaging and Bioengineering Research and on the Boards of the Academy of Radiology Research, Association of University Radiologists, International Society for Strategic Studies in Radiology, and Academy of Radiology Leadership and Management. Most recently, Bill was the Chief Medical Officer for CureMetrix, and played an important role in bringing forth and improving their mammographic Computer Aided Detection software. We have truly lost a giant, and a dedicated and vital member of our Society. He was a great radiologist, true pioneer, master innovator, wonderful teacher, speaker, writer, mentor, and leader. But to those of us who were lucky enough to know him personally, Bill was just a great guy. He was someone who made everyone around him feel comfortable, and inspired us to greater heights. His research, teaching, and academic leadership benefitted patients not only in his local area of practice, but around the world. Hence he made the world a beter place, and he will be sorely missed by all. Many thanks to Larry Muroff, MD, FACR, Bill's longtime great friend, for sharing the memoriam written by Alex Norbash, the current Chair of Radiology at UCSD, from which many of the details of this tribute are drawn. Michael B. Zlatkin, MD, FRCPC NationalRad Deerfield Beach Florida, USA Mark E. Schweitzer, MD Stony Brook University Stony Brook New York, USA

Instructional Vignettes in Publication and Journalism Ethics in Radiology Research: Assessment via a Survey of Radiology Trainees

The aim of the present study was to assess the potential usefulness of written instructional vignettes relating to publication and journalism ethics in radiology via a survey of radiology trainees. A literature review was conducted to guide the development of vignettes, each describing a scenario relating to an ethical issue in research and publication, with subsequent commentary on the underlying ethical issue and potential approaches to its handling. Radiology trainees at a single institution were surveyed regarding the vignettes' perceived usefulness. A total of 21 vignettes were prepared, addressing institutional review board and human subjects protection, authorship issues, usage of previous work, manuscript review, and other miscellaneous topics. Of the solicited trainees, 24.7% (16/65) completed the survey. On average among the vignettes, 94.0% of the participants found the vignette helpful; 19.9 received prior formal instruction on the issue during medical training; 40.0% received prior informal guidance from a research mentor; and 42.0% indicated that the issue had arisen in their own or a peer's prior research experience. The most common previously experienced specific issue was authorship order (93.8%). Free-text responses were largely favorable regarding the value of the vignettes, although also indicated numerous challenges in properly handling the ethical issues: impact of hierarchy, pressure to publish, internal politics, reluctance to conduct sensitive conversations with colleagues, and variability in journal and professional society policies. Radiology trainees overall found the vignettes helpful, addressing commonly encountered topics for which formal and informal guidance were otherwise lacking. The vignettes are publicly available through the Association of University Radiologists (AUR) website and may foster greater insights by investigators into ethical aspects of the publication and journalism process, thus contributing to higher quality radiology research.

Research Challenges and Opportunities for Clinically Oriented Academic Radiology Departments

Between 2004 and 2012, US funding for the biomedical sciences decreased to historic lows. Health-related research was crippled by receiving only 1/20th of overall federal scientific funding. Despite the current funding climate, there is increased pressure on academic radiology programs to establish productive research programs. Whereas larger programs have resources that can be utilized at their institutions, small to medium-sized programs often struggle with lack of infrastructure and support. To address these concerns, the Association of University Radiologists' Radiology Research Alliance developed a task force to explore any untapped research productivity potential in these smaller radiology departments. We conducted an online survey of faculty at smaller clinically funded programs and found that while they were interested in doing research and felt it was important to the success of the field, barriers such as lack of resources and time were proving difficult to overcome. One potential solution proposed by this task force is a collaborative structured research model in which multiple participants from multiple institutions come together in well-defined roles that allow for an equitable distribution of research tasks and pooling of resources and expertise. Under this model, smaller programs will have an opportunity to share their unique perspective on how to address research topics and make a measureable impact on the field of radiology as a whole. Through a health services focus, projects are more likely to succeed in the context of limited funding and infrastructure while simultaneously providing value to the field.

PACS used while on-call: a national survey of radiology program directors and chief residents.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of different diagnostic image viewing platforms used by radiologists while on-call, and to assess the opinions and preferences of radiology program directors and chief residents regarding their use. An online survey was sent electronically to radiology residency program directors and chief residents via the Association of University Radiologists. Forty-two radiology program directors and 25 chief residents completed the survey, yielding response rates of 24.9 and 8.5 %, respectively. From the survey results, 10 different Picture Archiving Communications Systems (PACS) were identified; GE (25 %), Philips (17 %), and Agfa Impax (15 %) were the most prevalent. Interestingly, only 5 % of all respondents use a secondary "Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine" viewer for on-call studies. Perceptions of PACS functionality were generally neutral to weakly positive. Most respondents strongly agreed that it is important to have a single integrated PACS for viewing on-call studies and agreed that the PACS should be integrated into the Electronic Medical Records (EMR). The overwhelming majority of respondents use their institution's PACS while on-call. The results show there is still a wide variety of PACS platforms used by different institutions; however, GE, Phillips, and Agfa were some of the most prevalent. Most radiologists surveyed have neutral to slightly positive perceptions about the functionality and ease of use of their PACS. Finally, while radiologists agree that PACS should be integrated with EMR, only 53 % of respondents currently have this arrangement.

Transitioning to a New Residency Curriculum

n important transition is under way in US diagnosticradiology residency training. Every program in thecountry is now composed of groups of upper-levelresidents following the traditional curriculum and lower-level residents following the new model. This transition hasbeen the topic of livelyand constructive conversation, partic-ularly at the annual meetings of the Association of UniversityRadiologists (1).In 2007, the Association of Program Directors in Radi-ology created the Residency Restructuring Committee tocarefully review the changes and anticipate their impact ontraining programs. Its roster includes directors of both largeand small programs, as well as members representing theAmerican Board of Radiology and the Diagnostic RadiologyResidency Review Committee. The committee’s assessmentof the challenges and opportunities of the new curriculumwerepublishedintheJuly2010issueoftheJournaloftheAmer-ican College of Radiology (2).Ifwelikenthe elements ofthenewcurriculumto pieces ofa puzzle, fitting them together poses different challenges todifferent programs. In every case, however, residents havejust 36 months to prepare for the new core exam. One keyto negotiating this transition successfully is to assemble thepieces in a way takes account of each program’s specificcircumstances. A ‘‘one-size-fits-all’’ approach simply willnot work. Yet learning from the experiences of otherprograms can prove illuminating, and it is in this spirit thatwe offer some words of advice from Indiana University (3).SELF-EXAMINATIONSelf-examinationiscrucial.Toadaptsuccessfully,wemustfirstknow our own program. What are its strengths? What are itsweaknesses? This applies not only to residents’ experiencesbutalsotothecompositionandinterestsofthefaculty.Wheredo residents perform particularly well? Where do theystruggle?Inpart,wecanlookatperformanceontheAmericanCollege of Radiology in-training exams and the AmericanBoard of Radiology exams, but test scores alone do not fullycapture what residents need to learn. What departmentalsections have particularly robust and engaged facultymembers? And what are the net effects of other educationalactivities, such as fellowship programs? In what areas mightfellowstendtohaveapositiveor negativeimpactonresidents’experiences?The key to the self-examination is honesty. We need tobe honest with ourselves, and we need to be sure thatwe listen widely, encouraging residents present and past toshare their frank impressions. We also need to talk tochairs, section heads, and educationally committed facultymembers. Every section of the department needs to berepresented, to ensure a comprehensive overview. This takestime and effort, and it is important for departments to makethis investment to ensure a successful transition to the newcurriculum.Itisimportanttorememberthatself-examinationisnotthephase to specify specific numbers of rotations in differentsections or how such pieces will fit together in the biggerpicture. The goal of this step is to arrive at a qualitativeassessment of how effectively each section educates residents.Difficult decisions may lie ahead, and these choices can besuccessful only if they are grounded in a thorough process ofself-examination.ANALYZING THE OLD CURRICULUMThe building blocks of the new curriculum deserve carefulscrutiny. What can each rotation contribute to the residents’education, in terms of both preparing for the new coreexamination and helping them become good radiologists? Ifrotations are not pulling their weight in this respect, theymay need to play a diminished role.Historical precedent is less important than a vision for thefuture. If a particular rotation has marginal or no educationalvalue, then serious consideration should be given to its elim-ination from the core curriculum so that room can be madefor rotations that better prepare residents for the qualifyingexamination. Where possible, program directors can sharefrank feedback with underperforming sections and helpthem improve.Sections that are performing well or whose performancecan be raised need to be positioned appropriately in thecurriculum to help residents prepare for the core exam.